The facilities management contractor Interserve has been fined after multiple safety failings were found at a laboratory site for the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge.

In September 2014, Hove Court heard how the main power source was lost at the site which included a high containment of laboratory facilities that required to safely handle high hazard pathogens that are a serious risk to human and the environment.

Interserve Facilities Managed was awarded the contract to the site and responsible for delivery of maintenance activities for many of the mechanical and electrical systems.

When the mains power was lost, of the twelve generators in place to supply emergency power to the site, two failed to start, and then two generators later broke with one resulting in a fire.

As a result of the emergency generator failures, the court was told all power was lost to a number of high containment facilities for several hours, affecting the site’s safety systems.

Further investigation from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found multiple failings of the contractor

Interserve (Facilities Management) Ltd of Capitol Tower, Waterloo Road, London, pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and have been fined £93,600 and ordered to pay £32,056 costs.

 

Keywords: HSE, Health and Safety, Training